Second Sunday of Advent December 4, 2016

PREPARE THE WAY

Saint John the Baptist appears on the scene today

as Advent enters its second week. The mysterious con-

sumer of locusts and wild honey, John echoes the words

of the prophet Isaiah as he calls for repentance in the face

of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. The rhythms

of the Christian life are often confounding. Each year we

meet the Baptist and hear his calls for repentance. Each

year we see him pointing to the one who is coming after

him, the Lord Jesus. Yet each year the words and actions

of John the Baptist echo anew in our hearts, because we

have fallen into old sinful traps again and again. Advent

gives us the opportunity once again to turn away from

our sinful ways and embrace the gospel way of life. John

the Baptist invites us to prepare the way for the Lord, in

whom we place our hope.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

St. Anthony Catholic Church PARISH OFFICE: 364-6150 FAX: 364-0969 SCHOOL OFFICE: 120 W. Park Ave. Phone 364-1952.

**In case of an emergency Email: frneusch@gmail.com or 806-570-5706** Parish website www.stanthonyscatholicparish.com

Parish Office Address 114 Sunset Drive in Hereford, Texas 79045 PARISH PASTOR — Rev. Fr. Anthony Neusch DIOCESE of AMARILLO — Bishop Patrick Zurek

Sign up for R.C.I.A and Small Groups Adult Faith Formation email janiebanner1@wtrt.net or call 364-6150 or 364-7626

Send bulletin art & articles to Jasmin Enriquez at jme.stanthonys@gmail.com by NOON Wednesday morning of week prior. Parish Office is open Mon. 10AM– 12PM, 1PM-5PM, Tue.—Thurs. from 9AM-12PM, 1PM—5PM w/ early closing on Fridays 9AM-12PM, 1PM-4PM during School

Session. Closed holidays, holy days and for some funerals & staff meetings. WELCOME NEWCOMERS: Please notify the church office of your arrival or if any changes in phone or address are made.

CONFESSION: Wednesdays @6:30am-7am & 6-6:45pm. Thurs@6:30am-7am. Fri.@7am-8am. Sat. @4-5:30pm. and Sun.@7:45am-8:45am and after the 9 AM Mass until 11 AM. Any time by appointment. Call the church office. NO confessions ON TUES. Priest’s day off .

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES: 4th Wed of each month. MUST Pre-Register in the church office. Watch Bulletin for dates

WEDDINGS: Couples must be members of the Parish. To begin wedding preparation, please call for an appointment with the pastor at least six months prior to planned wedding date. Pick up a marr iage packet with all the wedding guidelines from church secretary.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Call 364-6150 day or night. OR during office hours to schedule the Sacrament of Anointing prior to surgery or if health is serious or an accident has occurred. It is a Sacrament of healing and comfort, not necessarily of the dying.

Second Sunday of Advent DEC. 4 2016 8:45AM: Dismissal of RCIA after Homily, followed by topic—A/R

Second Collection Black Bag for Charity 10AM Elementary F.F.C. in school classrooms. 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. Vocations Crucifix: 5PM: Volunteer 8:45 AM: Volunteer 11:30AM: Joe & Diana Cabezuela 2PM Christmas Trees go up in the church. 5PM HOLY HOUR MONDAY— 7:15AM Mass TUESDAY—5:30PM Mass 7-8 AM Men’s Lectionary Study Group: A/R. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Begins 7PM 100th Year Committee Mtg. in the A/R WEDNESDAY— 7:15AM Mass 9:30 am - 11 am Women’s Lectionary Study - “Resisting Happiness” Books $3 in church office. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Ends. 6:45 Jr. High and High School F.F.C. THURSDAY—7:15AM Mass | School and office closed for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:15PM Mass 6:30 PM Parish Council PTO Mtg. FRIDAY— 8:15AM Mass 7am-8am Book STUDY resumes. See bulletin for 2017 January new book study. Call Janie to order a book for you! "WHY STAY CATHOLIC?"

SAT. 5PM LITURGY DEC. 10, 2016 Vocation Crucifix taken by Volunteer

Set-up table decorations at 4 PM First Penance Service at 3PM.

Third Sunday of Advent DEC. 11, 2016 8:45AM: Dismissal of RCIA after Homily, followed by topic—A/R

10AM: Elementary F.F.C in school classrooms. 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. Vocation Crucifix: 8:45AM Mass: Volunteer 11:30 Mass: Volunteer 1 pm—3 pm Parish Holiday Meal 5PM HOLY HOUR

LITURGY INTENTIONS

ALTAR SERVERS

Mon.7:15AM Anthony Ngo Dinls Canl Health Tues. 5:30PM Sister Barbara Zimmerer Health Wed.7:15AM Alene Stocker Health Thurs. 7:15AM Jonny Cloud Health Thurs.7:15PM People of the Parish FRI. 8:15AM Jim Muggenberg Health SAT. 5PM Kerry Marnell RIP SUN. 8:45 AM Charlie Stengel RIP SUN. 11:30AM People of the Parish

Lector Schedule for Dec. 10/11:

5 PM Mass: Ana Copeland and Lisa Macias

8:45AM Mass: Bill Dominguez and Lisa Blakely

11:30AM Mass: J im Hund and Greg Urbancyzk

Mon.7:15 AM Paul Betzen and Macy Betzen Tues.5:30PM Rachel Betzen and Daniel Betzen Wedn.7:15AM Azalea Alaniz and Arissa Alaniz Thurs.7:15AM Avery Detten and Aron Diaz Thurs. 7:15PM Camryn Blair , Kyndal Blair, Jasmine de la Cruz and Cadence Copeland FRI. 8:15AM School Students SAT. 5PM Pete Rodriguez, Avery Rodriguez, Abby Rodriguez and Jayden Sosa SUNDAY 8:45AM Benjamin Newton, Javier Enriquez, Faith Mariscal and Hope Mariscal SUNDAY 11:30 Knights of Columbus.

STEWARDSHIP of TREASURE Nov. 26/27 2016

Envelopes– 61 Loose Checks– 30

Envelopes/Checks $5,102.00

Plates $873.36

Children $98.50

Total $6,073.86

Black Bag Collection Total $550.00 Second Collection Thanksgiving $2,384.00 Extra Collection Christmas Flowers $575.00 Postage $5.00 FINAL Total = $9,752.86

All Altar Flowers, are in HONOR of Raul and Sara Pesina’s Anniversary from their children! Congratulations and may God Bless you both!

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule for Dec. 10/11:

5PM Mass: Samantha Guer rero, Jennifer Casarez, Coby

Lassiter, Tama Lassiter and Judith Grotegut (L)

8:45AM Mass: Shelly Diller (SC) Char lene Sanders (SC)

Shawn Fry (SC) Nadine Berend (SC), Elvira Enriquez, Jasmin

Enriquez and Ray Schlabs SICK CALL ONLY: Julie Newton and Claudia Garcia

11:30AM Mass: John Lozoya, Jens Brorman, Rob-

ert Zepeda, Harrison Parsons, Tom Albracht., J.R Gar-

man and Ronnie Fetsch ATTENTION PARISH FAMILY: The Church Office will be closed December 26 thru December 30, for a church office clean out! We will be re-organizing and cleaning out the church office, appointments can still be made for that week.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule for Dec. 8

7:15AM: 3 Volunteers Please 7:15PM: 3 Volunteers Please

Lector Schedule for Dec. 8

7:15AM: Charlene Sanders and Deby Reinar t 7:15PM: Audrey Meador and Melissa Sciumbato

My family prayed _____

rosaries this week.

Rosary for Priests and Religious Life.

You can help support St Anthony School by

purchasing a $5.00 raffle ticket for the Catholic

Schools Sweepstakes. All monies from the sale

of the tickets go immediately to our school.

Catholic Life Insurance is sponsoring the

Sweepstakes and has donated one grand prize

for the entire Sweepstakes. The 2017 Grand

Prize includes the Choice of 2017 FORD F‐ 150

TRUCK OR 2017 FORD FUSION SEDAN Or

$20,000 Prepaid VISA Credit Card Best of all,

if you purchase a ticket from our school, you

could win a $1,000

Prepaid VISA Credit

Card. Students will be

selling tickets starting

in October at the

weekend masses.

Eben Emerson is the husband of Dr. Jennifer Emerson and the proud father of Benjamin, Catherine, and Elizabeth. Eben holds a BS and an MS in Biblical studies and has extensive ministry training. Eben served a missionary for the Churches of Christ for 3 years in Mexico City and Ecuador. Upon his return from Latin America he served as a minister for Spanish and English speaking churches of Christ for sev-eral years. After an extensive study and lots of prayer Eben came home to the fullness of Christ’s Church at the feast of Christ the King in 2008. Since his conversion Eben has been very active in teaching and speaking. He has appeared on EWTN’s “Journey Home” and EWTN’s “Deep in Scripture.” He has taught deacon formation classes in the Diocese of Lubbock and has been blessed to teach in multiple parishes in and out of the area. He is the author of Catholic on Pur-pose and currently is the High School Religion teacher for Christ the King High School. Eben enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with friends. He is eternally grateful for His reception into the Catholic Church and hopes and prays he can be of service.

Prepare to Hear This Man Bring our Parish ADVENT Mission! Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend this year's Advent Mission Talk on "Baptism" and what that means for each one of us. The evening of Monday, December 12th, we - Saint Anthony Church - hope to welcome Eben Emerson to a church full of folks preparing hearts for a never-new and holy Christmas Season following another blessed Advent! Make it a priority and invite friends, family and neighbors to join us!

There are truly not enough THANK YOUs to everyone that has wrapped our family up in prayers, help, food, flowers and donations over the last several weeks. We are truly grateful and forever apprecia-tive. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we work through heal-ing. May God Bless You, The McNutt, Madden, Miller, and Padgett families.

I Thank Fr. Tony and all my family in Christ of St. Anthony and San Jose for all the prayers, during my hip replacement. Thanks to those that took communion to my house. Now I’m better, thank you all!

- Alfredo Lafuente (Freddie). May God Bless!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped prepare and de-liver thanksgiving baskets this year! 25 baskets were delivered, we had so much help this year it was a wonderful experience!

Dear St. Anthony Rosary makers, Thank you so very much for the rosaries you sent for the people in the Congo. We will take as many as you are able to send. Thanks again and God Bless, Gaspard N.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT: Daniel Leal, 92, passed away Nov. 26, a prayer service was held Tues. Nov. 29 and a celebration of life service was held Wed. Nov. 30. Surviving members of our parish are his son Danny Leal and 3 grand-sons, Noah, DJ and Jacob. Frankie Barrett, 92, mother of parishioner Cindy Fetsch and grandmother of Michael Davies, passed away Wed., Nov. 30 after an illness, services were pending at Hereford Heritage Funeral Home Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families during this difficult time.

THANK YOU to the following who physically fed our RCIA group delicious breakfast foods during November: Nadine & Ray Berend, Jeri & Frank Bezner, Jan & Ron Weishaar Danielle &

Rick Bartels, Connie & Fritz Backus, Martha & Larry Paetzold, Ann Lueb, Mary Ann Ramirez, Gail Melendrez, Von-

nie Elliott and Marietta & Nathan Flood. GOD BLESS YOU greatly!

THANK YOU to the following Catechists who taught on faith topics and fed the inquiring minds

of those in RCIA during November: Monica Bermea, Michelle Brisendine, Lisa Blakely, Jaime Brorman. We cannot do what we do without you on our Team! GOD

BLESS all!In His Name, With His Love, Janie Banner, Li-sa Blakely and RCIA 2016-17

118 rosaries were prayed for Vocations, the last several weeks. Thank you all so much!

THANK YOU to everyone who prayed, for me, the phone calls, hospital visits, flower arrangements and every other act of

kindness since my stoke. I'm now home still working on getting my strength back, thank you again and God Bless you! - Roberta Last

From the desk of our pastor, Father Tony Neusch.

DECEMBER and JANUARY CALENDAR DEC. 4—Christmas Tree’s go up in the church at 2PM DEC. 6—100th Year Committee Mtg. 7 PM: A/R DEC. 8—NO School and Office Closed, Holy Day of Obligation. DEC. 8—Parish Committee Mtg. 6:30 PM DEC. 10—1st Penance Service at 3 PM DEC. 11—Parish Holiday Meal, 1 pm—3 pm DEC. 11—Christmas lights and wreaths go up. DEC. 12—Advent Mission with Eben Emerson: 6 PM DEC. 13—Advent Penance Service at 6 PM DEC. 15—Christmas Program at 6 PM DEC. 15—Finance Mtg. at 6:30 PM DEC. 18—NO F.F.C: Christmas Break DEC. 21—NO F.F.C: Christmas Break DEC. 24—Christmas Eve Mass at 7PM DEC. 24—Christmas Vigil Mass at Midnight DEC. 25—Christmas Day Mass at 10AM DEC. 25/28—NO F.F.C Classes. DEC. 31—New Years Eve Mass at 5PM JAN. 1—New Years Day Mass at 8:45 AM and 11:30 AM

To the Immaculate Heart of Mary

I fain would sing a sweet new song Thy loving Heart to greet, I fain would cull the flowers fair, And lay them at thy feet.

And of the precious virgin-gold And shining jewels rare, Would form a royal diadem, To grace thy forehead fair.

But ah! the heart-strings seem unstrung And faint the music now, I cannot place a golden crown Upon thy queenly brow.

The first flowers fade too soon — What shall the offerings be From this poor exiled child of earth O purest Heart, to thee?

I’ll offer all the burning love Of Jesus’ Heart for thine, And in that golden censer place The little spark of mine.

And these, O Heart Immaculate, Shall be my gifts to thee ; Oh I pray thy sweetest Son to grant His love and thine to me. — Enfant de Marie.

The annual Holiday Meal for the parish is being planned for December 11th at 12:30. Anyone who would like to help with decorating one or more tables this year, please call Carmen Flood at 289-5381. Each table is different, and each is uniquely beautiful. Your gift to your parish family. Come join the fun!

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE Nominations for Distinguished Graduate of St. Anthony Catholic School are being accepted. A link to the form is below. Forms can be filled out and print-ed off or email it to mrscopeland@stanthonysaints.com or mrsmcnutt@stanthonysaints.com. Hard copies of the nomina-tion form are available at the school office. http://stanthonysaints.com/media/elem_awards_graduate_2014.pdf

ADULT Small Groups for Faith Formation and Study/Sharing - All Materials available.

——————————————— TUESDAY mornings year-round 7-8 AM

Men's Lectionary Study in Antonian Room (study of the upcoming weekend Readings)

————————————————- WEDNESDAY mornings 9:30-11 AM - Sept. 7 Women's Lectionary Study in Antonian Room

(study of the coming weekend Mass Readings plus a chapter from "Resisting Happiness" by Matthew Kelly )

————————————————- WEDNESDAY morning 9:30-10:45 AM Residents and Friends Lectionary Study

in Kings Manor Midway down Hall 800 with Al Simnacher. Call 364-6844.

————————————————————

Adult Faith Formation group meeting Wednes-day evenings in the home of Al and Pat Simnacher (group

is full) are studying "The Prayer of Peace by St. Fran-cis" (author is Hasse)

————————————————— THURSDAY night 7-9 PM

"Priest, Prophet, King" video/workbook series by Fr. Robert Barron in home of Monica Bermea, Frio-na. Call 575-693-3000 for directions and more information

————————————————- FRIDAY Study of “Learning and Living Jesus" is in last few chapters. New book, “Why Stay Catholic?” to

begin in January. 7-8:05 AM in Antonian Room —————————————

NEW SUNDAY Morning adult group after the 8:45AM Mass in the Library. Material available entitled SUNDAY BY SUNDAY with Sister Joan from Good Ground Press.

While you wait on the children in F.F.C., enjoy fellowship, study and

faith-sharing over some coffee! Have breakfast with others in the cafeteria on designated Sundays and then go

over to the Library. Enjoy growing in faith together! It is what early Christians did and Jesus told us to

continue to do always! ________________________________

SUNDAYS 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READ-

INGS in Library. Coffee available along with materi-als and missalettes. Call Daniel

Jesko at 363-5017 with any questions.

L A D I E S - - - NEW BOOK Study "Unleashed" - How to receive everything the Holy Spirit wants to give you" . You may pick up your book in the church. Books $18. Read the introduction and first chapter in preparation. We meet Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:15 in the Antonian Room except during

holiday breaks. Please be prompt! - Elaine McNutt, Monica Bermea (facilitators) If you have any questions, call Janie @364-6150 or Elaine at 346-2736.

NOTE for Wednesday Ladies Lectionary STUDY Group We are beginning a new book called "Resisting Happiness" by fun author Matthew Kelly. After looking at the weekly Readings, we read chapter by chapter and discuss how we can be better versions of the Christians we have been. We just completed the enjoyale "Rediscovering Jesus" book by the same author. So, we excitedly invite new members to enjoy growing in the faith, with fun & fel-lowship! The new books are $3 each and will be available this coming Wednesday. Only a couple doz-en have been ordered, so come claim yours or you will be on your own to order this awesome book! Janie Banner, Adult Faith Formation Coordinator 364-6150 or -7626

"W H Y S T A Y C A T H O L I C ? "

ADULTS and YOUNG ADULTS WHO are IN-TERESTED!! Plan to JOIN us!

We will START the NEW Year January 2017 with a NEW book --"WHY STAY CATHO-

LIC?" by Michael Leach (Loyola Press: a Jesuit Ministry) We meet Weekly on FRIDAY MORNINGS in the Antoni-an Room from 7-8:05. We will start promptly at 7 with prayer

and go chapter by chapter through the book together. It comes highly recommended by a sister parish in Amarillo who found this book before us! CALL Janie at 364-6150 or 364-7626 if you wish to be a part of this small group and get your

copy of the book ORDERED! Books cost around $15. Men, Women, High School Teens, or Youth in College -- are all WELCOME! We must have your RSVP for book or-ders. It is fun to gather, share, discuss and grow in faith with

one another! Coffee is always on! Make that choice

now! Please CALL FOR BOOK ORDER BY DEC. 10. In Christ, Janie Banner - Parish

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

Each family is encouraged to pick up a parish-provided

copy of "Prepare His Way! - Hope and Healing, Justice

and Peace for Advent" with reflections by Pope Francis,

St. Mother Teresa and Fr. Henri Nouwen. Take copies to

other members of your family who may not be able to come

to Mass. Your parish offers these to help

you as individuals and families to have a

happy, holy and more peaceable Advent

Season.

WEDDING POLICY UPDATE: The new Rite of

Marriage now says weddings can no longer oc-

cur at a Sunday Mass. Weddings can be sched-

uled for either Friday evening (5 pm or 6 pm)

or Saturday (10 am or 2 pm). All weddings

currently scheduled are not affected by

the new policy.

Thoughts for Reflection: “Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here,

who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold?

What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” WORDS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

TO JUAN DIEGO.

Your job is to help your children get to Heaven!